Bjugstad, McCann Cap ‘Surreal’ Day with Pens Win

Newly acquired forwards make it just in time as Pens top Sens

A bit flustered, new Penguins forward Jared McCann looked at the media assembled around his locker in a bit of a daze.

“I haven’t seen this many cameras in I don’t know how long,” he said, before being asked about, likely, the wildest day of his professional career.

McCann, as well as forward Nick Bjugstad, had just finished their morning skate with the Florida Panthers when they got the call that they had been traded to Pittsburgh.

Derick Brassard and Riley Sheahan were heading the other way.

After speaking briefly with Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford, Bjugstad and McCann jumped on a plane. They arrived at PPG Paints Arena around 6:50 p.m., roughly ten minutes before puck drop of Pittsburgh’s 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators Friday night.

The two players got dressed, shared a Red Bull, and joined the rest of their new teammates during the national anthem.

“It was pretty surreal, showing up at game time was interesting,” Bjugstad said. “It might have been better for us. There wasn’t much thinking. We just showed up to the rink and played.”

Bjugstad centered the Penguins’ second line, as Evgeni Malkin missed the game with an injury. McCann took over the third line center spot for the departed Brassard, who never could figure things out after being acquired last Spring.

“This is an easy team to come in to, obviously,” Bgugstad said. “(They’re) very fun to play with. I’m definitely very excited to be a part of this team.”

“We just kind of jumped right into it,” McCann added. “We didn’t talk much. The coaches talked to us on the bench a bit, saying to just keep it simple. I feel like we did that.”

Bjugstad picked up his first assist as a Penguin, a secondary helper on the first of Bryan Rust’s two goals. McCann played just over 10 minutes, winning 7-of-11 faceoffs.